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Wednesday, 30 August 2017

China must put pressure on North Korea, says Theresa May

Theresa May has called on China to "do everything it can" to put more pressure on North Korea to stop "illegal" and "outrageous" missile tests.

The Prime Minister has landed in Japan for an official visit, one day after Pyongyang filed a missile over the north of the country.

Speaking to journalists on the flight, Mrs May said: "The actions of North Korea, of DPRK, are illegal. They are significant actions of provocation.

"I think it's outrageous. That's why we will be working with our international partners - as we have done previously but we will be doubling our efforts with our international partners to put pressure on North Korea to stop these illegal activities."

Mrs May, who says she spoke to President Xi Jinping about this issue at the G20 summit in Hamburg, added: "China has a key role to play here in terms of the pressure they can bring on North Korea."

She believes that Chinese pressure would be "the best way" of influencing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. She added: "We would encourage China to do everything it can."

China's foreign minister says Beijing is working with other members of the UN Security Council on a response to the latest missile launch but did not specify whether a fresh set of sanctions is looming.

Officials in China, Pyongyang's only major ally, have also urged all sides "to stick to peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve this issue".

The Prime Minister was asked three times whether the UK would rule out military action or the use cyber warfare capabilities against North Korea - and three times Mrs May dodged the question, insisting that she would continue to work with international partners.

Security and defence was always due to be high on the agenda during the Mrs May's three-day trip to Japan, but recent events have added urgency to the talks.